WLNR began broadcasting in February

By Margaret Fisher / Sfaff Writer

Published: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 10:15 PM.

He said part of the problem he has faced is lack of technological advances by the FCC and competition by FM channels and Internet radio. The Kinston station, Rodriguez said, is operating on a trial basis.

“We are really going to try and make it work with the gospel station,” he said.

Connor Media took out a license for at least as far back as 1980. The station was once known as WISP 1230 AM and played popular music at least as far back as the 1950s. It was an all-sports station in the early 2000s.

Crutchfield said she plans to broadcast church choirs and ministry talk shows, as well as gospel music. In the works is a program about a battered women’s shelter. She also plans to have live call-in shows. The on- or off-air call-in line is 252-522-5401.

The station is seeking ministries’ programming. For information, call 252-522-9567. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.

Crutchfield has been looking for an opportunity to get back into radio until recently, when she discovered WLNR in Kinston, a sister station of the Wilson station.

“I was praying and asking the Lord for something in radio,” she said.

She and three employees now operate the 1223 West New Bern Road station.

“I’m here to stay,” Crutchfield said, “until the Lord says something different, and our plan is to keep it gospel.”

It’s the only all-gospel station in Kinston. The only other city radio broadcast is WELS on Queen Street that plays contemporary Christian and classic hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

WLNR is owned by Estuardo Rodriguez and his wife Leonor of Washington, D.C. The couple purchased the station from Connor Media Group in the early 2000s. It was off the air for a year and began broadcasting Spanish programming. Rodriguez said the station has been off the air since October.

He said part of the problem he has faced is lack of technological advances by the FCC and competition by FM channels and Internet radio. The Kinston station, Rodriguez said, is operating on a trial basis.

“We are really going to try and make it work with the gospel station,” he said.

Connor Media took out a license for at least as far back as 1980. The station was once known as WISP 1230 AM and played popular music at least as far back as the 1950s. It was an all-sports station in the early 2000s.

Crutchfield said she plans to broadcast church choirs and ministry talk shows, as well as gospel music. In the works is a program about a battered women’s shelter. She also plans to have live call-in shows. The on- or off-air call-in line is 252-522-5401.

The station is seeking ministries’ programming. For information, call 252-522-9567. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.